Government encourages applications for innovative building funding

The government is calling for UK organisations to apply for a share of up to £12.5m for projects that will transform how the construction sector delivers new buildings. The funding is offered through UK Research and Innovation and Innovate UK.

The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which is made up of £170m from the government and £250m from industry, is designed to help create new construction processes and techniques. The £12.5m funding is one element of this overall project and will include funding for research, a construction network and the creation of a building centre and innovation hub.

The government is looking for projects that focus on the design and management of buildings including digitally enabled performance management systems, projects that take a manufacturing approach to high-quality design and projects that look at how to power these buildings through active energy systems.

The projects chosen should also favour preassembly, increased productivity, scalable construction methods, integration of building components and improved whole-life value for money. It is also looking at energy systems that are able to store and generate energy at lower costs than are currently available. The overall aim of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund is to support projects that transform methods of construction while lowering costs and timescales.

The applications process is open now and will run until 19th September and projects can cost between £25,000 and £1m depending on the project length.